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TO CELEBRATE ‘INNOVATION OF THE YEAR’ NOMINATION

DONMAR WAREHOUSE ANNOUNCES

LIMITED RE-RELEASE OF CONSTELLATIONS ON DEMAND

★★★★★

Daily Mail

★★★★

‘A modern classic:  Brilliant, beautiful theatre’ iNews

Following the nomination of the critically acclaimed revival of Nick Payne’s Constellations for Innovation of the Year in The Stage Awards 2022, Donmar Warehouse today announce the re-release of all four productions – starring Sheila Atim and Ivanno Jeremiah, Peter Capaldi and Zoë Wanamaker, Omari Douglas and Russell Tovey, and Anna Maxwell Martin and Chris O’Dowd.

The filmed productions are available on demand now, until 31 January 2022 via https://ondemand.donmarwarehouse.com/

In a producing model, devised in response to the pandemic, Donmar Warehouse Artistic Director Michael Longhurst rehearsed four different casts, each refracting the play afresh. One of the first productions to open post lockdown, Constellations was a smash-hit success, seen by over 60,000 people in the West End this Summer.

Michael Longhurst said today, “I am incredibly proud that the model of this project, which allowed us to serve audiences so well this Summer, has been honoured by The Stage’s nomination. And in this exact moment when getting to see our current production of Force Majeure live is not possible, we are delighted to be able to reshare Constellations.”

★★★★

‘Funny, heartbreaking.  A sharp, smart hit of first-class drama’ Evening Standard

For a limited time, Constellations will be available for 50% off. Each production will be £7.50 to rent and households will be able to watch the show for 24 hours after purchase; or a multi buy of all 4 for £20, with extended viewing time of 14 days. Captioned and audio described versions will be available, in partnership with VocalEyes and Stagetext.

★★★★

‘A stellar revival.  playful and profound’ The Guardian

Four new casts. One relationship. Infinite Possibilities.

‘One drink. And if you never want to see me again you never have to see me again.’

A quantum physicist and a beekeeper meet at a barbeque. They hit it off, or perhaps they don’t. They go home together, or maybe they go their separate ways. In the multiverse, with every possible future ahead of them, a love of honey could make all the difference.

★★★★

‘This offbeat romance is the classiest show in the West End’ Daily Telegraph

★★★★★

‘An unmissable theatrical event…I honestly couldn’t advise as to which is the better pair to see… Cosmically brilliant.’ WhatsOnStage

Michael Longhurst directs, with design by Tom Scutt, lighting design by Lee Curran, sound design by David McSeveney, music by Simon Slater, movement direction by Lucy Cullingford, casting by Anna Cooper CDG for the Donmar Warehouse, BSL Consultancy by Daryl Jackson, fight direction by Kate Waters, associate direction by Debbie Hannan, associate costume design by Kinnetia Isidore, assistant direction by Sara Aniqah Malik and Robert Awosusi, assistant design by Zoë Hurwitz andassistant lighting design by Laura Howard and assistant sound design by Callum Perrin.  

Donmar Warehouse, Wessex Grove and Eleanor Lloyd Productions 

Eilene Davidson, Gavin Kalin Productions, Grand Cru Consulting Ltd, Rupert Gavin/Mallory Factor

In association with Nica Burns for Nimax

The Royal Court Theatre Production.

Winner of the Evening Standard Award for Best Play and WhatsOnStage Award for Best Design.

DONMAR WAREHOUSE

The Donmar Warehouse is a 251-seat, not-for-profit theatre in Covent Garden, led by Artistic Director Michael Longhurst and Executive Director Henny Finch. We have won more than 100 awards in our 28-year history.

In our converted warehouse, we bring together audiences – never more than four rows away from an actor – to experience world class artists and rising stars create thrilling, unmissable theatre.

We rehearse life, imagine the future and exalt in the capacity for stories to effect change. We celebrate the power of live performance and visionary artistry to challenge, entertain, move and inspire us.

We develop new artists and future audiences through our renowned training programmes and our Discover activity with schools and communities. We know that theatre enriches our society, through empathy, imagination and community. We share our work far and wide to achieve this and maximise the impact of our artists’ ideas.

www.donmarwarehouse.com

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube: @DonmarWarehouse

Listings

Constellations

The films will be available via: https://ondemand.donmarwarehouse.com/

For this limited run, Constellations will be available for 50% off. Each production will be £7.50 to rent and gives audiences access to watch the show for 24 hours after purchase; or a multi buy of all 4 casts for £20, with extended viewing time.

Theatres Trust, the national advisory body for theatres in the UK, has responded to the Welsh government’s announcement of further Covid-19 restrictions from Boxing Day. Jon Morgan, director of Theatres Trust, comments:

Theatres in Wales have worked so hard to keep audiences and performers safe, adapting quickly to the introduction of Covid passes last month, so the announcement today that social distancing will be reintroduced, while understandable, is a major blow. The festive period is critical for most theatres’ finances and considerable sums of money will have already been invested in panto and other seasonal shows. This will add further hardship to the theatres and those who work in them. We therefore welcome the additional support including the Winter Cultural Stability Fund announced by the Welsh government and hope that it will be distributed swiftly.

Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham – until 01st January 2022 then Nationwide

Reviewed by Joanne Hodge

5*****

The music of the The Four Seasons is woven through the memories of my childhood. My parents were teenagers at the height of the bands’ fame, and as such their LP’s were regularly on the record player in our house, or on the cassette player in the car on our Sunday seaside trips.

Oasis are the band of my teenage years, and you’d think that they are the epitome of ‘rock and roll’ with their infighting and off-stage antics, but don’t let the look of these four smooth, suited-and-booted Jersey Boys fool you – they were creating great songs and behind the scenes dramas long before the Gallaghers’ were born.

The show tells the story behind Tommy [Dalton Wood], Nick [Lewis Griffiths], Bob [Blair Gibson] and of course Frankie [Luke Suri] – four American-Italian boys from Jersey and their journey between the wrong side of the tracks and fortune and fame. A line which is often burred and crossed – especially for loveable rogue Tommy.

Confirming that well-known adage that there’s three sides to every story; yours, theirs and the truth, we get to see how money and success can change people and situations, and not always for the better.

From the opening bars of scene one, I was hooked, and I’m confident I can say the same for the rest of the auditorium too. All ages were present, something I was glad to see, as you’d usually find younger patrons at panto at this time of year. Older members of the crowd swayed and bobbed along to tunes that reminded them of times gone by, with teenagers nodding in recognition as they realised that so much of today’s music has been influenced by The Four Seasons. Pretty sure some only learnt today that Beggin’ was not a Madcon original!

The songs felt ageless thanks to Steve Canyon Kennedy [Sound], and whilst the steps the Boys are known for were historically accurate, Sergio Trujillo’s choreography made it fresh for the more modern audience. I was particularly impressed by design team Klara Zieglerova and Michael Clark, who seamlessly joined old and new, with both projections of original 1960’s crowd footage alongside pop art graphics spattered throughout, which both reenforced a change of scene or a particular line or lyric.

Jill Green’s casting is PHENOMENAL! Every single character jumps straight off the stage and in to your heart, but Luke Suri’s Frankie will surely steal it. I was astonished to discover that this is his theatre debut. He is every inch the professional, and you felt safe and secure in his interpretation of the role. It must be so difficult to capture the essence and sound of someone so famous, but he did it with ease. Had I closed my eyes, I could have easily believed I was back sitting on my parents floor with that old record player going. I”m not sure I’ve ever seen a full-on standing ovation midway through an act of a matinee performance, but Luke received one, and it was every-bit deserved.

I must give one other special mention, and that’s for Damien Winchester [Barry and others], who stole every scene he was in with perfect comic-timing and characterisation.

I could go on and on about this fantastic show, but all I will say is .. Oh what a night! Make sure you don’t pass up an opportunity to see it.

Lyric Theatre – 20 December 2021

Reviewed by Claire Roderick

5*****

This fantastic festive show delivers exactly what it promises – Christmas classics and some musical theatre favourites performed by a stellar West End cast.

After being forced to delay last year’s Christmas show by six months (it was well worth the wait!), producers Shanay Holmes and Chris Steward gave the audience at the Lyric some much-needed Christmas cheer.

Shanay Holmes is a warm and welcoming host, and is able to charm an audience in seconds. She also has an INCREDIBLE voice and made the most of her Mariah moment. The mix of songs was perfect, giving us a range of favourite songs from the performers’ shows between Christmas bangers.

John Owen-Jones’ Bring Him Home is always worth the ticket price alone, and his effortlessly emotional voice is perfect for Christmas numbers. Jodie Steele showcased her insane vocals with Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas and the audience went wild as she, Teleri Hughes and Inez Budd performed Mean Girls/Heathers numbers.

Emma Hatton wowed the crowd with her powerful voice in songs from Anastasia, Wicked and Frozen. Two of the stars of Frozen, Oliver Ormson and Obi Ugoala also brought the house down – Ugoala with his smooth vocals and Ormson with his high energy numbers – the entire audience were up on their feet dancing and singing along to Merry Christmas Everyone. Shanay Holmes also led a singalong to spread the Christmas joy.

The band, backing singers, dancers and Stagebox kids were all on top form, adding to the celebratory atmosphere. This was a wonderful , uplifting show – the perfect way to start the countdown to Christmas.

Orange Tree Theatre – 31^st December  

Reviewed by Carly Burlinge  

5***** 

Pinocchio is the story of Hugo (Nathan Queeley-Dennis) a boy who is frustrated and lonely as all he wants is a little attention from his Mum Ang (Fiona Drummond). The play itself is based around COVID and Hugo feels very isolated as he doesn’t feel like a real boy. He can’t do the normal day to day things that he would normally do – going out and seeing friends like ordinary boys would. In fact, all Interaction seems to be at a minimum even with mum when she doesn’t have the time because she’s working from home and the telephone keeps ringing. Taking her away from Hugo along with her attention too! As a compromise Mum decides to make Hugo his very own Pinocchio out of craft. Then things get strange when a magical blue fairy turns up turning Hugo into Pinocchio so that he can go on many adventures accompanied by his Toy Dinosaur Angus that also comes alive! But with great adventure becomes great responsibility! Watch Hugo go exploring thinking it will make him super happy. However, he soon realises that maybe he had everything he really needed at the start. Sometimes you just need to work these things out for yourself! 

This production was truly a magical one, offering so much to a young audience from great adventures to so much interaction. Making paper planes and launching them to snowball fights. There was so much visual excitement and enjoyment through lights, bubbles fabulous paper puppets. Not to mention the acknowledgement of how we have all coped with emotions through this hard time.  What I really liked was how they overall discussed COVID and how many of us have felt during this period a good understanding for children to hear. 

All in all, the list goes on for such a lovely beautiful production that every child as well as adults will enjoy and appreciate. Just amazing. 

Statement from SOLT & UK Theatre following Chancellor’s funding announcement

We welcome the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s announcement of business grants and a £30 million top-up to the Culture Recovery Fund. This is a clear signal that the Chancellor and HM Treasury understand the challenges facing our theatres and other cultural businesses.  

Whilst the new funding is most welcome, it is now crucial that DCMS works with the theatre sector to ensure funds are targeted to the businesses and individuals that need it most, including those currently ineligible for the CRF (Emergency Resource Grant). If the situation continues to escalate, further assistance will be needed.  

We are so grateful to all our audiences who continue to champion our theatres and help the industry survive, providing a lifeline to the countless talented performers and staff around the country working tirelessly to keep the curtain raised.   

During this festive period – always a crucial time for the health of our sector – we urge the public to keep booking tickets if they are able to do so and enjoy some much-needed respite in these difficult times. Our theatres are operating under industry-wide See it Safely measures, and full refunds or exchanges will always be offered if a performance is cancelled. 

We advise audiences to visit their local theatre’s website to see what performances are playing, and for people looking to see a show in London to visit officiallondontheatre.com/tkts for the latest information on which shows are available to book for tonight. 

Theatres Trust is the UK’s advisory board for theatres across the country. Director of the Theatres Trust, Jon Morgan, responds to the Chancellor’s announcement of business support and the further £30 million being added to the Culture Recovery Fund to support theatres during the impact of Omicron and the Covid-19 pandemic this winter:

Theatres Trust welcomes the government’s decision to release an extra £30m from the Culture Recovery Fund to support theatres and other cultural organisations in urgent need of support. The additional mandatory grants of up to £6,000 are also welcome and will be particularly helpful to smaller theatres. We hope that both funds are distributed as quickly as possible to help protect theatres. Theatres across the country are already struggling with shows being cancelled due to infections and falling ticket sales as audiences follow government advice to be cautious, so this support is very much needed. 

Theatres Trust has responded to the Scottish government’s announcement that there will be new Covid-19 restrictions:

In the face of rising Covid numbers, Theatres Trust understands the need to introduce additional precautions but the news today that capacity limits will be introduced in Scotland will have a devastating impact on theatres, many of which were only just managing to survive following the difficult past two years. It comes at the worst possible time with theatres in the middle of their busy festive season, which generates the income to keep many going through the rest of the year. We therefore welcome the additional financial support announced by the First Minister and hope this will be distributed quickly. 

EPSTEIN THEATRE, LIVERPOOL – UNTIL SUNDAY 9 JANUARY 2022

REVIEWED BY MIA BOWEN

4****

When I think of a pantomime, I think of glorious costumes, dazzling lights, booming bangs, foggy smoke, funny dance moves and hilarious comedy moments of audience participation. Christmas pantomimes are a favourite festive event and this one certainly did not disappoint.

Fairy Rose (Nazene Langfield, the understudy) sets in motion the tale of Beauty and the Beast. The very wicked Madame Botox (James Lacey) wishes for her son Gaston (Tom Fothergrill, the understudy) to marry the beautiful young Belle (Lauren McCrory) but despite Madame Botox’s attempt to curse the prince, turning him into a hideous beast (Benjamin Keith), Belle falls in love with the doomed prince. Will the Beast learn to love and be loved, in time to break the spell?

The slap stick escapades of French Frank (Lewis Devine) and Potty Polly (Jamie Greer), guarantees audience participation and gets them into panto mood with their chucklesome comedy corkers.

The choreography is elegantly performed by talented dancers and the songs are well chosen, especially Madam Botox’s version of ‘I put a spell on you’. The whole audience, old and young alike got onto their feet, to join in with ‘Tik Toks’.

From the first ‘Bonjour’ to the last goodbye, I was thoroughly entertained throughout. The slick cast transformed this age old tale into something of a Beauty for everyone.

The Epstein is SEE IT FIRST approved, which means they are complying with industry and Government Covid-19 guidelines. The wearing of masks was encouraged, whilst walking around and when seated.

The Epstein is a magnificent, grade 2 listed theatre based in the heart of Liverpool. After a strenuous 18 months, the Epstein Theatre is back, under new management with this premier pantomime.

THE TURBINE THEATRE ANNOUNCES FULL LINE-UP

FOR PAUL TAYLOR-MILLS’ FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICAL THEATRE

MTFESTUK 2022

RUNNING FROM 31 JANUARY – 12 FEBRUARY

The Turbine Theatre’s Artistic Director, Paul Taylor-Mills, announces the exciting and diverse new musicals selected for this year’s MTFestUK 2022. The line-up includes: No Limits, Halls , Wuthering Heights – The Musical, Train On Fire, RuneSical, Father/Son, Jeanne and Queeroes.

A celebration of new musical theatre, MTFestUK2022runs from 31 January – 12 February 2022 at The Turbine Theatre in Battersea and sets out to promote quality artistry with a view to showcasing and elevating projects to full production, giving audiences an insight into the process of creating new work and the art of collaboration. Paul Taylor-Mills launched the inaugural MTFestUK season at The Other Palace in 2019, followed by a 2020 & 2021 season at The Turbine Theatre.

THIS YEAR’S LINE-UP FOR MTFESTUK 2022 WILL INCLUDE:

NO LIMITS

By Sam Thomas

Have you ever felt that you’re behind in life? That you’re not where you want to be, or where you think you should be? “Seems like everybody’s getting married and being promoted and having babies and moving somewhere, but does it really mean you’re losing? You’re not!”

No Limits is an exciting new song-cycle by Sam Thomas that shatters the notion of falling behind in life – because there’s really no such thing. It follows characters as they dare to believe in themselves and strive for a better tomorrow. A show with heart, humour and a message we should all take on board… Know no limits.

***

HALLS

By Jennifer Harrison and George Stroud

Halls centres on a diverse group of eight, first-year uni students from different cultural backgrounds and upbringings who are brought together when they find out they’ve been allocated the same exact flat in Halls of Residence: Flat 15B. Over the course of the show, audiences can look forward to some rich character development as they witness these eight lovable students blossom and develop over their academic school year.  

The new Halls musical also takes on many themes typical to life at university, including the cost of student living, love and romance, freshers week, flat arguments, cramming the night before an exam, and self-acceptance. Now forced to own up to the decisions they make, will these characters manage to find their footing in the world with the greatest of ease? Or will there be lots of trial and error? 

Featuring upbeat, feel-good vibes that evoke feelings of nostalgia for our uni days, Halls is set against the backdrop of a catchy, contemporary, pop-rock soundtrack

***

WUTHERING HEIGHTS – THE MUSICAL

By Lizzie Lister, Mick Lister and Clare Lonsdale

This is Wuthering Heights like you’ve never seen before, retold through a haunting, filmic score, fusing the classical with the contemporary. We revitalise Brontë’s renowned Gothic romance through a 21^st century lens. Wild, whimsical Cathy has grown up on the Yorkshire moors, and when Heathcliff, the young immigrant orphan, is thrust into her life, the pair soon become inseparable. This brutally honest retelling of Heathcliff and Cathy’s death-defying love highlights the novel’s most hard-hitting themes, and will harden, break and heal your heart. From the lovelorn Lintons, tyrannical Hindley, to the all-seeing, all-knowing Nelly Dean, this adaptation gives every character the chance to tell their side of the story.  

Within these walls our story lives, a captive soul hunts freedom in the Heights

***

TRAIN ON FIRE

By Annabelle Lee

Kitty Marion just wanted to be a singer. Instead, she became one of the most volatile, violent suffragettes in Britain’s history. Train on Fire is a musical where the feminists of today tell the story of a feminist of yesterday

***

RUNESICAL
By Sam Cochrane and Alex Prescot

Sword equipped. Potions ready. High-speed internet connected.

Based on the hugely popular online game RuneScape, join Lance_054 (the first fifty-three were taken) on a quest where YOU, the audience, decide where the characters go next! Whether you’re an experienced player or a total noob, Gigglemug Theatre (The Stage Edinburgh Award Winners) bring you a new multi-pathway musical which will have the whole family laughing from start to finish.

***

FATHER/SON

By Nick Butcher & Fraser Watt

A beautiful exploration of the relationship between Liam, known as ‘Godfather of the Blues’, and his son Finley, a songwriter chasing the charts. 

From adolescence to adulthood, the two musicians endure stadium stomping highs and earth-shattering lows. Together, they discover at what cost they are willing to sacrifice relationships, authenticity, and eventually each other to become ‘King of the Road’.

***

JEANNE

By Shirlie Roden

A through-composed rock opera, “Jeanne” traces the story of the legendary fifteenth-century Joan of Arc, a young peasant girl destined for greatness, who claims to have been chosen by God to liberate her country and to crown the Dauphin as King of France. The dramatic raising of the siege of Orleans finds Jeanne fulfilling her vision, standing beside the Dauphin as he is crowned. 

After failing to retake Paris, Jeanne is later captured and taken to Rouen to stand trial where her destiny is sealed as she is condemned as a heretic and sentenced to be burned alive – the flames a living symbol through the centuries

***

QUEEROES

Book by Victoria Bush and Laura Checkley

Music by Gus Gowland, Leo & Hyde

(An original idea conceived by Paul Taylor-Mills)

Queeroes is a celebration of some of history’s iconic queer heroes. The ones that should have made your history lessons at school…but didn’t. It’s time to shine the spotlight on them and imagine what if. What if Alan Turing ending up in the same room as Frida Carlo. What would they talk about? And… if they could sing…what might they sing. Join us as we celebrate queer history in this irreverent and high-octane party.

REHEARSAL IMAGES RELEASED FOR BRAND NEW PRODUCTION OF ORWELL’S

ANIMAL FARM

ADAPTED & DIRECTED BY THE CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED & MULTI AWARD-WINNING

ROBERT ICKE

WITH DESIGNS BY BUNNY CHRISTIE & PUPPETRY BY TOBY OLIÉ

RUNNING FROM 22 JANUARY – 28 MAY 2022

 PRESENTED BY THE CHILDREN’S THEATRE PARTNERSHIP

IN ASSOCIATION WITH BIRMINGHAM REP

Rehearsal images are released for the highly anticipated upcoming production of George Orwell’s classic satirical fable, Animal Farm, adapted and directed by the multi award-winning Robert Icke (The Doctor, Hamlet, Mary Stuart, Oresteia, 1984).

The brand-new production will embark on an extensive UK tour, opening at Birmingham Rep from 22 January 2022, with press night on Wednesday 2 February.  The play then tours to Cambridge, Newcastle, Bath, Norwich, Salford, Plymouth, Nottingham, Coventry, Blackpool, Liverpool, Canterbury, Richmond and Wolverhampton, completing its run on 28 May 2022 at Bromley’s Churchill Theatre.

The cast of Animal Farm includes Matt Churcher, Darcy Collins, Enrico D. Wey, Ailsa Dalling, Elisa De Grey,  Jonathan Dryden Taylor, Ailsa Edmundson, Michael Jean-Marain, Rayo Patel, Yana Penrose, Markus Schabbing, Sharon Sze, Ben Thompson and Matt Tait.

The production also combine the forces of some of UK theatre’s most talented creatives, including designs by the four-time Olivier Award-winning Bunny Christie (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Company, Ink, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time), and puppetry by Toby Olié (War Horse, Running Wild, The Grinning Man, Goodnight Mister Tom).

The animals of Manor Farm drive out the farmer and run the farm themselves.

A revolution. And then what? Then freedom. Every animal will be free.

Old Major, the prize boar, calls the animals of Manor Farm together.

He has had a strange dream of a better future.

George Orwell’s world-famous, biting political novelwas first published in 1945 and tells the story of a revolution and its aftermath. Re-imagined by an award-winning creative team, Animal Farm is a dynamic, daring and contemporary take on a timeless story.

Icke previously worked on another of Orwell’s classics, 1984, which he co-adapted and directed alongside Duncan Macmillan, garnering him his first Olivier Award nomination for Best New Play in 2014, enjoying smash-hit runs in both the West End and on Broadway. Animal Farm also reunites Icke and Christie following their celebrated 2016 collaboration on The Red Barn at the National Theatre. 

The production is produced by Children’s Theatre Partnership (CTP) in association with Birmingham Rep. CTP creates bold and imaginative theatre for young people, engaging new audiences and aiming to inspire a life-long love of theatre.